Infected with Acroware Ransomware? Need to decrypt your files?
What is Acroware Ransomware
Acroware is a crypto virus that infects most of the files on the user’s computer. It can be video files, audio, PDF, archives and much more, in other words, the most meaningful files. Like analogs, Acroware encrypts user files and changes their extension to .cryptolocker. After that, to restore the files or restore them to their original state becomes impossible. Moreover, the cryptovirus removes system restore points to exclude the possibility to roll back the system. The lock screen YOUR COMPUTER GOT LOCKED acts as an information window that contains information about the buy-out:
textual content:
YOUR COMPUTER GO LOCKED
Your Computer Got Sniped by AcroWare Cryptolocker!
All your Personal Data got encrypted and the decryption key is stored on a hidden
webserver, after 72 hours thedecryption key will get removed and your personal
data/files are Lost forever. To get the decryption key and saveyour personal data/files
you have to pay 80 USD/EUR in Bitcoins to this Bitcoin Adress: 1KyU66zS2TCEWapwufy8wqsALawySJfj84
and send a email with your ID(Top Left) and your bitcoin adress to this email adress:
alphaoil@mail2tor.com any try of removing this Ransomware will result in an instantly
delete of the Decryption key and all your files!
Like many similar cryptoviruses, the developers of Acroware insist on payment of a buyout in the amount of about $ 80 in the cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is chosen to hide its activities from law enforcement agencies. Scammers also try to intimidate users, giving a time frame during which the user must pay. Of course, all this is a fraud. Do not pay them! Try to restore your files and remove Acroware, using our recommendations.
Update: Use following service to identify the version and type of ransomware you were attacked by: ID Ransomware. If you want to decrypt your files, please follow our instruction below or, if you have any difficulties, please contact us: submit@securitystronghold.com. We really can help to decrypt your files.
How Acroware infected your PC
There is a lot of opportunities for penetration on the PC. For example, Acroware comes as an update to Flash Player or other software, or as an attachment to spam mailing. It should be noted that this is due to the insecurity of user networks. Users rarely use paid versions of antivirus software, so their computers are vulnerable. You need to use antivirus software to prevent the penetration of such cryptoviruses. If Acroware has already encrypted your files, then use our guides to remove it.
First of all, don’t panic. Follow these easy steps below.
1. Start your computer in Safe Mode with networking. To do that, restart your computer before your system starts hit F8 several times. This will stop system from loading and will show Advanced boot options screen. Choose Safe mode with networking option from the options list using up and down arrows on your keyboard and hit Enter.
2. Log in to the system infected with the Acroware virus. Launch your Internet browser and download a reliable anti-malware program and start a full system scan. Once the scan is complete, review scan results and remove all entries detected.
Recommended Solution:
Norton is a powerful removal tool. It can remove all instances of newest viruses, similar to Acroware – files, folders, registry keys.
*Trial version of Norton provides detection of computer viruses for FREE. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Norton.
You may find more detailed information about antivirus products in our article – Top 5 Antivirus Software for Windows
Restore your files using shadow copies
- Download and run Stellar Data Recovery.
- Select type of files you want to restore and click Next.
- Select the drive and folder where your files are located and date that you want to restore them from and press Scan.
- Once the scanning process is done, click Recover to restore your files.
Step 2: Remove following files and folders of Acroware:
Related connections or other entries:
No information
Related files:
No information
How to decrypt files infected by Acroware?
You can try to use manual methods to restore and decrypt your files.
Decrypt files manually
Restore the system using System Restore
Although latest versions of Acroware remove system restore files, this method may help you partially restore your files. Give it a try and use standard System Restore to revive your data.
- Initiate the search for ‘system restore‘
- Click on the result
- Choose the date before the infection appearance
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Roll the files back to the previous version
Previous versions can be copies of files and folders created by Windows Backup (if it is active) or copies of files and folders created by System Restore. You can use this feature to restore files and folders that you accidentally modified or deleted, or that were damaged. This feature is available in Windows 7 and later versions.
- Right-click the file and choose Properties
- Open the Previous Version tab
- Select the latest version and click Copy
- Click Restore
Protect your computer from ransomware
Most modern antiviruses can protect your PC from ransomware and crypto-trojans, but thousands of people still get infected. There are several programs that use different approach t protect from ransomware and lockers. One of the best is HitmanPro.Alert with CryptoGuard. You may already know HitmanPro as famous cloud-based anti-malware scanner. Check out ultimate active protection software from SurfRight.
Written by Rami Douafi